Stabbing incident at St Pious Boys’ RC School

Minister of Education the Honourable Anthony Garcia

The Ministry of Education’s Health, Safety and Security Division along with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service are continuing investigations into a stabbing incident that took place at the St Pious Boys’ RC School on Monday 13th May, 2019.

Reports coming into the School Supervision Division have indicated that the teacher involved is in a stable condition at hospital.

The staff of the Student Support Services Division were on hand from the commencement of the school day on Tuesday 14th May, 2019 and included a team of Guidance Officers and Social Workers meeting with students who may have witnessed the incident to offer intervention and counselling as needed. Services afforded under the Employee Assistance Programme will also form a part of the intervention to be given to the school.

Reports have indicated that the assailant entered the compound under false pretenses,therefore as a part of the investigation into the incident the security protocol for entry and exit to the school compound will be assessed, and changes made where necessary. Of the one hundred and ninety-one (191) students and eleven (11) teachers that comprise the school population, one hundred and five (105) students and ten (10) teachers were present today.

Minister of Education the Honourable Anthony Garcia expressed sincerest wishes for a speedy recovery to the teacher and gave the assurance that a thorough investigation will be conducted to ensure that this unfortunate incident is not repeated. Minister Garcia stated that “Our teachers are responsible for molding the future of Trinidad and Tobago. No teacher must feel any sense of danger while they carry out their duty in delivering education to our students, and no student should ever have to be a witness to such an attack. The Ministry of Education will continue to do all that is necessary to ensure that teachers and students of all schools feel safe throughout the school day.”